The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-08-18
COL ELLSWORTH.
The Truth About the Young Commander OF the
Fire Zouayes

rlre LOuaNes.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: For Gods
sake, dear NATIONAL TRIBUNE, do let up on Col.
Elmer L. Ellsworth. Every time YOU refer IN
him you err. Capt Ellsworth, for a Young
man, was very magnetic aud an excellent drill
master i knew him all through 'j7. '5s 80
90 aud '6l. lie roomed with me for months in
Chicago. 10 is more than erroneous about his
being 50 poor in Chicago. Ii was no such thing.
lie was member of my Chicago Citizens Fire
Brigade In %, '5S and 80 and we were never
without funds. We 1.-THE brigadel were snn-
ported by the New York Fire Insurance Com
panes. We broke up the Volunteer Fire De-
partment OF Chicago under Mayor along
john. The Zouayes were organized from a
remnant OF the Chicago Cadets. Col Striker.
oil the Avengers" can youch for the same.
was ana am member Of the Chicago
LouaVes. Ellsworth was a member of my
Citizens Fire Brigade. Now for history.
was financial agent for both the brigade
and the Zouaves. We were blended together
IN membership. Ellsworth, with ~ guns came
10 New York after having challenged the
United States and the Canadas TO drill against
his Tigers" He warmed the Burgess Corns
at Albany in 1860; was received by two COM
panies OF the sth regiment here; took break
last at the Astor House; took New York by
storm before a. m; drilled at Union Sduare.
then at the park IN front of the City Hall. by
request of Mayor Fernando Wood. From here
went To Boston; then drilled the pet I'd Co. of
the 9Th n. Y. S. NJ. at West Point. and after
visiting the principal American cities and re-
turning 10 Chicago with a triumphant sween
aud not the loss of "A single star in his Illinois
State banners, resigned his military position
and commenced reading law with A. Lin
coin, esq, at Springfield, ILL., before his nomi-
nation and election as President.
At about the time OF the Inauguration of
"Old Abe" Ellsworth renewed his association
with his Old command, the ZOu-Zous and ac
c0mpanied, rs guard, the President elect 10
Washington, and later the "Colonel" and his
little corps followed and acted as guard about
The White House. Now comes the first turn
ing point la Elsworth's public life. He inter
viewed Gen. Scott March, 1861. He informed
the General that war Was inevitable, aud mod
estly I'D requested Colonel's commission i'm the
United states Army. The dear General pron-
lsed 10 refer his request 10 the President and
Cabinet; later IL was decided to oder Elmer n
Second Lieutenantcy Of infantry. Debased.
disheartened, Disguised, at the want of recop-
milton on the part of the Government of his
great military abilities, he vowed never 10
draw sword in defense of the flag. He came
TO mc-then in charge of a department of n
hre insurance company in this city-reauest-
ing aid tn return homo. Now mark this point.
While standing at my desl--We will say il was
Oh Broadway-the President called me and
asked me who that was crying. / told him.
he said. "Detain him for mt least an hour."
THAT is, after | having told him the story of
his chagrn.) The President sent for one of
our ex-Mayors, a leading member of the then
leading dry-goods house in New York. aud one
or two other leading directors aud in one hour
II was suggested to enlist the fire. laddies, and
~ was but few hours before the houses were
turned into recruiting stations. and a steam
organization was introduced TO the city after
many years of effort on the part of the insur-
anee Interests.
Col. Ellsworth, previous to tho eyentful morn
OF landing at Alexandria, knew every risk of
that flag. the Marshall House, aud jackson's
character, oathS and associations from his cra-
die; has brutal conduct at John Browns hang
ing aud of his and his associates Oaths relative
TO the hand that lowered that dag. lie should
not have done Sergeants duty-"3ii," fist
\. Y. s. NJ; I'd Duryea's Zouayes; 81 Mass.
Cav, New York city.
Il. 5. As guard, i received on morning of Col.
Ellsworth's murder his body, took il to the
engine room of Navy Yard, notified the Presi
dent aud also officer in command of the 2d
n. Y.